Application For Fire and Ambulance Station To Be Granted

Published: Friday, May 2nd, 2014

An application to build new fire and ambulance station in Wrexham looks set to be given the go-ahead next week.

The Welsh Ambulance Service Trust application, which is due to go before the Council’s Planning Committee on Monday, proposes a new Fire and Ambulance Station and Resource Centre with Training Facility is erected on Croesnewydd Road.

Along with the station and its training facilities, parking for staff and vistors, vehicle washing and a retraining area would also be provided.

The building itself would be two storeys in height and would be built from a ‘smooth red facing brick’ and a light coloured render with grey panel cladding for the walls and roof. The report states that the proposed design ‘helps to assimilate the development into its surroundings and the choice of materials visually break ups the mass of the buildings’.

However a number of complaints regarding potential noise pollution and disturbance have been raised from those who live nearby in Pentre Bach.

The report notes that ‘adequate noise assessment in accordance with BS 4142 has been submitted in relation to the intended use of the site. Any noise generated by air handling plant can be adequately controlled by noise rating condition’.

Lawrence Isted, the council’s head of community wellbeing and development, states in the report: “Both the ambulance and fire services will operate a policy of not using emergency sirens when leaving the immediate vicinity wherever possible.”

Mr Isted later adds: “Wherever possible, sirens will not be used at all between the hours of 23.30 and 7.00, and given the low level of traffic anticipated during theses time, this
should be achievable.”

Concerns were also raised about the noise during the construction of the building. However it is noted that ‘these works will take place for a relatively short period of time and the amenity of nearby occupiers should not prove unduly disruptive’.

Overall Mr Isted concludes in the report: “The proposed development offers the opportunity to regenerate the redundant site and visually enhance the overall image of the town whilst ensuring that the development does not harm the appearance of the townscape. The proposed development accords with local planning policy and I recommend accordingly.”

The Planning Committee will meet on Tuesday at 6:30pm in the Guildhall to discuss the report.